SHERBURNE – The fifth annual Eric J. Peptis Memorial Golf Tournament is set to take place this Saturday at the Mountain Top Golf Course, with proceeds to go to community youth.

“He was just a good kid and an even better man, and he is sorely, sorely missed,” said Sue Lawson, mother of the late Eric “Eeker” Peptis. “He loved everybody and was liked by all. At his funeral, the director said it was one of the biggest he’s seen.”

For the fifth consecutive year, family and friends of Peptis will join together Aug. 6, 2016, at the Mountain Top Golf Course in Sherburne for a tournament and auction where all proceeds benefit a scholarship fund created in Peptis’ name.

“The purpose of this tournament and memorial fund is to try to turn the tragedy of losing Eric into something that can help others,” said friend and organizer Amy Doliver.

Said Doliver,” Eric meant so much to a lot of people in this community. The golf tournament is a way for family and friends to come together and share memories of Eric while raising money that goes back directly to the community that he loved so much.”

His mother said, “He was the life of the party and he loved just about everyone. He always wore a smile and never had a bad word about anyone. He loved both his sports and his family.”

His brother, Jake Peptis, said, “He was able to make any bad situation that much better with his witty humor and antics. Like the time we took mom and dad’s Jeep to Gathering of the Vibes in Connecticut, it was raining, cold and nasty, and he kept trying to get women to have a margarita with him, on a beach that wasn’t quite a beach.”

Danielle Deuel recalled her prom night with Peptis. “Eeker came to pick me up at my mom’s house for photos before we headed out to have dinner. I'm almost 5'8" and in heels, well… you see the dilemma. We took our photos with me in my bare feet at his request. I remember at prom, he did this crazy nerdy dance move, I can't remember what he called it, but it was his ‘signature move,’ and my friends and I had a good laugh.”

In a previous interview with The Evening Sun, Peptis’ mother said, “Growing up, Eeker was your typical scrappy kid. He hung out with all the neighbors, and had more friends than I’ll probably ever know about,” Lawson said. “As a man, he worked hard. He did what he had to do when he had to do it, and knew how to have fun. He liked his concerts, he lived for those. He loved to go with Jake and Sarah.”